I went on a bit of a chazzathon with my mate Sue on Monday - we had daughters in tow, who did pretty well out of it.

Is there any doubt of the benefits of charity shopping?

Our haul of a Reiss skirt; dresses from Cos and Mango; Melissa, Clarks and Vans shoes; and sundry other bits and bobs (including a vintage Spirograph set), with no greater price tag than £4, would surely convince anyone of the benefits of secondhand shopping.

What else have I been doing?

Pegging out the washing to take advantage of the weather;

doing the pub quiz with my darlings of the Ladies Purse (don't ask; any quiz where the winner only scores 11 out of 20 is clearly Too Fucking Hard);

and meeting up with old friends for a debrief about the vagaries and perils of Life.

1988-9; I lived with Sal and Claire; we are still friends. We reminisced about parties, relationships, snogging rashes, twin tubs, and music.

Rings and first bangle - charity shopped

Second bangle - gift

This is such a lovely time of year; the blossom on my ornamental cherry tree only lasts about 2 weeks, but I do love it when it comes.

Oh I really do love your After Eight dress. You are all sunshine and lollipops and rainbows. Looks like a great Spring break. Isn't it wonderful to find the Perfect Pair of Shoes? One of the great joys of life. Well, a great joy in MY shallow life anyway. Lolita is on my to-read list. I guess I'll hit up the used bookstore so I can add it to my dust pile. You are Looking lovely and sartorially perfect as always. Xxxxoooo

Blue sky and blossom with farking fabulous shoes thrown in with gorgeous maxi dresses. You have it all going on. See how I noted the shoes!! I don't mind the folk that buy new because they are the fools that pay full price then chuck it out for us to score at bargin prices!! School holiday fun, no getting up early to make lunches, I remember those days well. Enjoy your time off from the routine, and enjoy your glorious looking weather.

After Eight is when people rolled out of bed in the 70's to get dressed and go out. It is also a chocolate mint candy, but your After Eight is a lovely piece of clothing that really suits you. I always think you look great in green, but then I see you in yellow, and now blue, and I cannot decide.

So much to love! Oh your garden oh your garden! Your outfits are fantabulous as always but I'm breathless over your garden. Your photos are always so fantastic too and I love them! So cool with the downward angle dress shots. I've just woken up from a nap and not sure if I'm making any sense. Nenah is probably making more sense than I am. Don't wipe your snotty nose on anything fabulous. Get better soon!xo

School holidays......how we loved them when we were at the chalk face and how we avoid going anywhere when they are on now we do not have to work! But, we are pleased to see you taking advantage of the relaxed mood and your outfits really do reflect both the season and the ambiance. Make the most of it!

It is so true that the spring blossom lasts for only a short time but it is so lovely whilst it is there. For many years we lived in Herefordshire and the Apple Blossom in the orchards was truly a fabulous sight when in full swing. How wonderfully you have captured the glory of these moments against the blue sky!

Twin tubs! oh what a palaver! I had one in my bathroom, lovely! after months of dragging laundry to the launderette I though it was almost convenient! I'm not going to get started on snogging rashes!! but hurrah for holiday lie ins! I'm going to be buggered next week - Love the After Eight dress! what a cool name too! your Sherman is divine, and I LOVE the cardi - I love the kids love chazza shopping too, mine are pretty cool about it, Jen likes the idea that it makes her outfits more individual, smart girl! have a great weekend Curtise! x x x

You look gorgeous, as always, and how lovely and Spring-like everything looks. We're enjoying it over here too. Sadly, where I'm from in Canada doesn't seem to get Spring anymore. It goes from sub-zero blizzards to humid heat waves in a heartbeat. That Sherman maxi is to die for! Xoxo

Manchild was 1989! Blimey where did that 25yrs go? Ah twin tubs, we had one when I was a nipper, did you have the wooden tongs too?Shame about the pub quiz, who sets the questions for heavens sake? They obviously don't nick them off the telly, as a ten year old could answer the average quiz show question. Your blossom is stunning, such a pity it goes over so quickly but never mind no doubt your garden holds more surprises to delight us. Looking lovely as ever Curtise, don't forget to set that alarm next week. xxx

Your dresses match the garden nicely at the moment! There are pink cherry trees in my street, I love it when the blossom snows down all over the place. Love a bit of Neneh, too, gimme a breakbeat! Although twin tubs always make me think of Carter USM, they had a song that was basically them shouting "twin tub! with! guitar!" for a few minutes :)

Great to see open toes and beautiful blooms, Curtise! Nothing quite as nice as a school holiday, for sleeping in and charity shopping. You are as pretty as spring, too (but sorry you're sick - feel better soon), xox.

Lovely and chic so you are.How fab is the Easter break? Love it. Love Art shoes too...yours are delicious. I have a pair of Mary Janes that look like they belong to Grayson Perry when he is Clare. Brilliant they are.Have a top rest of weekend.xxxxxx

I was trudging around Kilburn and West Hampstead with my own wee man child in a front sling when this song came out. Neneh was such a cool, young mum and I really admired her. Yep school holidays are the business! I have been extremely lazy and so have the kids, probably because the first term was such agony for all of us. If they heap on that much assessment in term two something's gonna have to give. You are looking like an absolute spring dream love, an inspiration to the skinny jean and wolf jacket brigade. I love how you revel in the unique beauty of each season, enjoying your garden and gosh that cherry blossom!!! xoxoxoxoox

Pub quizzes sound like so much fun even if the questions are stupidly difficult. Spirograph! They're so fun! I've seen people embroider the designs onto scarves and shirts. You always look so cool and smashing. Enjoy your holiday!

What lovely dresses. Our blossom is only starting to come through, probably as we are in the frozen North. Hope you are feeling better and having a great Easter.P.s. Did you see Neneh Cherry on "later..." . Talk about blast from the past. ;) xx

So good of you to see the silver lining of everything.I also have a little cold, but I am already feeling better after seeing your gorgeous dresses, and the sandals, ahhhhhhhhhhhh I love themHappy Easter (better late then never, lol)

It's been a glorious spring so far- the flowers in full blossom- and I am chomping at the bit to wear some fresh new frocks. Saw a dress that reminded me of you- a maxi with flowers splashed across it of course. Hope your Easter was lovely! -Bella

Two gorgeous dresses and its great to get a glimpse of those sandals, too. Far too much of a wuss to bare my feet yet, I'm still in boots and tights (and bare arms!)Glorious blossom and blue skies. Has it been like that all weekend? Its vile here!That quiz sounds bastard hard. I remember twin tubs (and the missing wooden tongs) well. A whole day spent in shared houses doing the communal wash once a fortnight.Wouldn't a Spiro graph decorated shirt dress look amazing. Go on, do it!Love you! xxxxx

Flowers, flowers everywhere. I can't get enough of them. Your garden is dazzling and so are you in your lovely garden-inspired frockage. One of my great pleasures is pegging washing outside in the sunshine so that it smells of fresh air and Springtime. Twin tubs? Ha! We never had such a thing. It was the 'orrible launderette for hours on a Saturday or handwashing in the bathroom sink. I went sockless today. Felt glorious. Stupid quiz. Sack the Quiz Master. Better still, off with his head! Ooh, a spirograh, your lot have hours of fun to come. Xxxxx

You make the best collages! I love it how the pink flowers from the tree end up on your yet another gorgeous maxi dress! Those shoes are wonderful, I sure wouldn't mind to have a pair of such beauties with a character. It sounds like you had a perfect little break with friends, thrift shopping (you know that I have been taking notes from you all the way, right?) and sunny weather. Hugses! :)

Oooh, look at all the flowers!! We don't have any here except the odd brave daffodil. Today was sandal weather but the temperature's dropping about 10 degrees or so tonight to just above zero and chilly tomorrow. It was a very nice long weekend though!

I do love those sandals - I ended up selling mine to a friend because I couldn't wear them anymore because of my foot pain :(

Here is to toes hanging out in sunshine! All these dresses and every flower in your garden is so beautiful! I'm getting ready to add a bunch of flowers to my yard look out next year I want an English garden! LotsofloveXxxxooo

The maxi Queen - your dresses are just amazing. The Sherman one is my favourite, as I really love border prints. My 12 yo is envious of finding a pair of Vans while opshopping, as she is on the constant lookout for a pair of them, or Converse. You look so relaxed and I hope you have a great school holiday!